Scientists have successfully developed a promising new strategy for cancer treatment. This technique utilizes LED light combined with ultra-thin tin-based nanomaterials to precisely eradicate cancer cells while effectively protecting surrounding healthy tissues. It is expected to avoid the severe side effects associated with traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The Research
This research was collaboratively completed by The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Porto in Portugal, aiming to advance phototherapy towards safer and more cost-effective directions. Unlike traditional phototherapies that rely on expensive lasers and complex equipment, this study innovatively employs lower-cost LED light sources and tin-based "tin oxide nanosheets" as the treatment medium.
In the published study, this method demonstrated significant efficacy. Experiments showed that just 30 minutes of LED light exposure effectively destroyed up to 92% of skin cancer cells and 50% of colorectal cancer cells. Healthy human skin cells in the control group remained undamaged, proving the high selectivity of this technology.
The theoretical basis of this technology is near-infrared photothermal therapy, which involves converting light energy into heat to locally destroy tumors, representing a non-invasive treatment method. The research team is currently delving deeper into the specific mechanisms of photothermal conversion and testing other nanomaterials that might enhance the treatment effectiveness.
Why Choose Tin Oxide Nanosheets?
As a semiconductor material, when tin oxide nanosheets absorb light of specific wavelengths, their internal electrons become excited and subsequently release energy in the form of heat through a relaxation process. Furthermore, at the nanoscale, the photothermal conversion efficiency of tin oxide is very high. This means that irradiation with relatively low-energy LED light can generate sufficiently high temperatures locally, leading to the thermal ablation of cancer cells. Additionally, compared to some toxic heavy metal nanomaterials (such as cadmium, lead, etc.), tin is a metallic element with relatively good biocompatibility. This provides a safety foundation for its clinical application.
To promote clinical translation, the researchers plan to develop portable or implantable medical devices that can be directly applied to patients. Particularly for skin cancer, it may be possible in the future for patients to receive post-operative adjuvant therapy at home to eliminate residual cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence. This progress suggests that cancer treatment could be moving towards a more personalized, affordable, and pain-free direction.
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